Realtor.com: Inside America’s First Solar-Powered Community
America’s first solar-powered community has had a “mind-blowing” effect on residents’ power bills—and it’s even getting attention for surviving Hurricane Milton unscathed, and without losing power. Billed as “the Hometown of Tomorrow,” this planned community in Punta Gorda, FL, just 15 miles from Fort Myers, is fueled by solar energy, thanks to the 880-acre solar […]
A Hands-On Solar Experience at Babcock Ranch’s FPL Eco-Discovery Center
Babcock Ranch is not just any community—it’s America’s First Solar-Powered Town. With a strong commitment to sustainability, resilience, and technological innovation, Babcock Ranch leads the way in creating a living environment that is both eco-friendly and future-forward. One of the most exciting attractions here is the Solar Ranch – an FPL Eco-Discovery Center, a place […]
SolarButterfly Visits Babcock Ranch
The SolarButterfly, a 30-foot, solar-powered, self-sustainable residential vehicle, visited Babcock Ranch—also known as America’s first solar-powered town, on it’s 4-year global tour to show the world that there are solutions against Global Warming. Read more about their visit in this Gulfshore Business article.
Babcock Ranch featured in New York Times article on solar power
Not every energy-resilient community is classified as a microgrid. Babcock Ranch, a development about 15 miles northeast of Fort Myers, Fla., calls itself the nation’s first solar-powered town. Babcock Ranch has an 870-acre solar farm to power the community, including two solar array systems totaling 150 megawatts of capacity, a transmission substation (with another being […]
Babcock Ranch Featured at Aspen Ideas: Climate Conference
Babcock Ranch, which is powered entirely by solar, was designed for resilience, said Kitson as he spoke to the crowd on the final day of the conference. The 150-megawatt solar facility has 700,000 panels, and weathered the hurricane well. Kitson took a rare approach to developing land. The firm bought the 91,000-acre ranch in 2006, […]
Babcock Ranch: A Solar City Making Great Progress
We’re very excited to share the progress that has been made on the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center! Located in Charlotte County over 400+ acres, the Solar Energy Center will provide energy to the future thousands of homes in the town of Babcock Ranch. “We are honored and pleased that Florida Power and Light […]
World’s First Solar-Powered Town Under Construction In Southwest Florida
Launch of Babcock Ranch signals rebound of real estate market Punta Gorda, Florida – Today, Kitson & Partners ushered in a new era of smart growth with the unveiling of Babcock Ranch, which – when completed – will be the most sustainable, most innovative and healthiest new town in the country. Located in southwest Florida, […]
SustainRWorld Day: Advocating for a Better Tomorrow
From environmental issues to social issues and everything in between, it’s more important than ever that we band together to help create a better, more sustainable world. Our own Syd Kitson, CEO/Chairman of Kitson & Partners and visionary behind Babcock Ranch, is a part of a fantastic campaign. SustainRWorld Day is a movement to bring […]
Chevy Bolt EV rolls out in Florida with a road trip to Babcock Ranch
Cross-state test drive features overnight recharge in solar-powered town General Motors marked the Florida debut of the Bolt EV with a road trip from Miami to Southwest Florida on Friday, July 21st. Named 2017 North American Car of the Year, the Bolt EV boasts a 238-mile range on a single battery charge. The cross-state drive […]
How Solar Works at Babcock Ranch
To understand how solar works at Babcock Ranch, first consider the solar field’s massive scale: 440 acres. How big is that? Imagine 333 football fields of solar panels soaking up the sun’s energy. In a partnership with Florida Power & Light, Babcock Ranch developer Kitson & Partners provides a massive 74.5 megawatts of energy. The […]
Charlotte County community dubbed ‘City of the Future’
You’ll find solar trees throughout the heart of Babcock Ranch, and electric vehicle charging stations in every home. It’s out-of-the box ideas like these that are helping Babcock Ranch exceed the “city of the future’s” sustainable expectations. “We’ve accelerated past what even the original vision was,” said Babcock Ranch President Rick Severance. “I don’t think we’ve had […]
The Benefits of Solar Power
There’s a reason Florida is called the Sunshine State. So, it’s no surprise that Florida Power & Light has embarked on an ambitious plan to build a network of solar plants across the state. In Southwest Florida, it has collaborated with developer Kitson & Partners to build the Babcock Ranch Energy Center. The Babcock Ranch […]
Babcock Ranch Featured on The Weather Channel
Syd Kitson, Chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, spoke to The Weather Channel about the effects of Hurricane Irma at Babcock Ranch. Listen to Syd as he talks about the history of Babcock Ranch, our solar fields, and the minimal impacts we felt from Hurricane Irma in September 2017. “The eye of the storm […]
Announcing Battery Storage at the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center
Babcock Ranch’s clean energy efforts were taken to the next level when FPL created the largest solar-plus-storage system operating in the U.S. today. Each of the ten large gray steel battery storage units at the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center can store 1 megawatt of power and discharge for 4 hours. The adjacent 440 […]
Babcock Ranch, Lee Health leaders light it up with friendly power competition
Babcock Ranch Developer Syd Kitson, and Lee Health president and CEO Larry Antonucci, and their teams took part in a friendly competition at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Lee Health’s Healthy Life Center at Babcock Ranch. The facility has the first electricity-generating workout equipment in the US, and that’s just one of the elements that […]
America’s First Solar Community Coming To Life In Florida
Fox News reporter, Phil Keating reports on the progress of the development that hopes to become America’s first self-sustaining city, Babcock Ranch. It’s now the country’s first, fully solar city. A dream starting to come true for new residents, like Josh and Jasmin Day. To watch the full segment click here.
